Our Hero - the Mercedes-Benz GLA

New Delhi

We recently drove to the Indo-Tibetan border to celebrate 69 years of India's independence - over the course of which we traversed over what the Border Roads Organization proudly referred to as 'The Most Treacherous Road in the World'.

Our intrepid crew for this around-the-world adventure is growing by the day. "Who'll do still photography?" someone asked - and so four (highly skilled, we hope) photographers were roped in. This is in addition to the anchors, directors, producers, and cinematographers. All of the aforementioned adventurers will be racking up the miles as they fly in and out of obscure locations, but the one constant will be our hero for this journey-of-all-journeys - the Mercedes-Benz GLA. Sirish has already done more than a couple of miles in this baby - having driven from Stuttgart to Pune last year. At AutoX, we recently drove to the Indo-Tibetan border to celebrate 69 years of India's independence - over the course of which we traversed over what the Border Roads Organization proudly referred to as 'The Most Treacherous Road in the World'. These comforting signs were posted all along the journey from Reckong Peo, in the Kinnaur district of Himachal, to the border at Shipki La. However, the diminutive GLA was undeterred. We encountered falling rocks that could shove a moving vehicle into the fast flowing Sutlej below without even changing trajectory, we crossed wooden suspension bridges, we gasped our way up to almost 18,000 feet, and the GLA didn't miss a beat. On the other hand, it did turn heads everywhere it went - even in the remote regions of Himachal. Then again, this isn't entirely surprising, since with the GLA Mercedes certainly got their design mojo back. So I expect that we'll be turning quite a few heads on this drive across six continents - many in admiration at its sleek lines, but also quite a few perplexed by the MH number plates and right-hand drive configuration of our made-in-India Mercedes-Benz. We'll simply give them a smile and the good old Indian head wobble, and be on our way - we do have quite a bit of distance to cover after all. Know more about the Great OverLand Adventure here. (Images: evo India)